Runyan Lake Inc.

The lake association for the entire community of Runyan Lake
located in Tyrone Township, Livingston County, Michigan.

 

 

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Water Quality Monitoring and Studies

                        

Quick Links

 

RLI monitors water quality by annual water testing and periodic water quality studies.  Our annual water testing only tests for E. coli bacteria.  Our less frequent water quality studies (every 5 - 10 years) include a much more detailed water analysis. 

 

General Runyan Lake water use statement:

Exposure to any recreational water can be a potential health risk.  Gastrointestinal and dermatological illnesses have been associated with recreational water exposure. Rain and subsequent runoff can dramatically increase E. coli bacteria levels in lakes and other surface waters. Therefore, it is advised that caution be exercised with total body contact in area surface waters after rain events.  That said, Runyan Lake offers what most consider to be excellent water quality, both from a clarity aspect and a general health and safety aspect.

 

How do we sample the water?

RLI collects samples in areas of about 3 feet of water, and takes the actual sample at a water depth of approximately 2 feet.  A map showing the sample locations can be accessed below. These samples are taken from areas of inflow into our lake (creeks), and therefore represent what is flowing into the lake as well as the total lake result after the inflow has mixed with the lake water in the immediate area.  

 

How to interpret the results:

We deliver water samples to the Genesee County or Livingston County Health Department, or Water Tech in Howell for analysis.  The County Health Department utilizes the following rules to interpret the E. coli test results. (By authority conferred on the director of public health by section 12544 of Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended, being §333.12544 of the Michigan Compiled Laws):

 

R 325.2102 Sanitation and safety determinations.  Rule 2. (1) Bacterial concentrations in water at a bathing beach, as determined by standard methods, shall contain not more than 130 Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters, as a 30-day geometric mean. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of all individual samples taken during 5 or more sampling events representatively spread over a 30-day period. Each sampling event shall consist of 3 or more samples taken at representative locations within a designated sampling area. Bathing beach waters shall not contain more than a maximum of 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of 3 or more samples taken during the same sampling event at representative locations within a defined sampling area.

 

The current State of Michigan public health standard for total body contact recreation (e.g., swimming) for a single sampling event requires that the number of E. coli bacteria not exceed 300 per 100 milliliters of water.  A reading of less than 300 can be interpreted as water safe to swim in. 

 

Keep in mind we also collect our samples from areas of inflow into our lake.  These creeks may contain bacteria counts which become diluted as they disperse within the lake, but may result in somewhat elevated levels not representative of the bulk of our lake water.  Our intent is to verify water flowing into Runyan Lake is not unsafe, and that water within Runyan Lake is safe.

 

 

Annual Water Quality Test Results  - Total Bacterial Concentrations
of Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters
  Test Locations
Date (Ostrowski) Runyan Creek Ramp Creek Denton Creek (Hicks) Jewel Lake Creek Sporer Creek Middle of Lake Special Comments
6/1/2006 33 9 186 n/a 11 n/a Ramp sample taken in middle of cove.  L. Johnson location instead of Sporer.
10/9/2006 12 12 16 0 2 n/a Ramp sample taken in middle of cove.  L. Johnson location instead of Sporer.
8/13/2007 6 50 1 2 5 n/a Ramp sample taken off Fishwick lot
8/5/2008 236 8 186 40 224 n/a Ramp creek sample taken off Fishwick lot
  In 2006 & 2007 samples obtained two foot below surface of water.
  In 2008 Ostrowski, Denton, Hicks, Sporer samples obtained directly from creeks.
  Higher Ecoli counts may be due to obtaining samples directly from creeks.
2009 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

n/a

Sampling not done
6/1/2010 53 23 81 3 204 n/a Ramp sample taken near the Polakowski / Fishwick property line
9/31/2010 3 8 74 3 3 n/a
6/14/2011 6 224 4 4 8 n/a Ramp sample may have been taken in water too shallow or disturbed
8/9/11 12   204   25   6   14   0 Ramp sample may have been taken in water too shallow or disturbed
5/24/12 2   42   0   0   2   0     Very little rain prior to taking samples
8/21/12 0 11 4 2 1 1 Very little rain prior to taking samples
10/16/12 4 88 2 2 5 3
5/30/13 21  488 54 18 36 12 Ramp sample exceeds safe levels
6/19/13 161 147 n/a n/a n/a n/a Follow-up testing from 5/30 results, also 6/13 Heights sewer leak
7/30/13 7 27 19 10 5 12 Middle of Lake taken in front Of Sirl
5/30/14 1 17 17 0 19 0 Middle of Lake near slalom course - deep water
8/18/14 2 16 15 3 6 1 Middle of Lake near the dam outlet
6/8/15 6 42 5 8 8 n/a
7/20/15 3 24 8 3 5 n/a
6/1/16 5 20 5 0 23 n/a
8/2/16 6 77 3 18 11 4 Middle of Lake near slalom course - deep water.  Also sample by Buchanan, reading was 3.
6/19/17 6 40 3 3 43 n/a
8/16/17 6 5 1 1 2* 12** *Sporer creek - two tests, results 1 & 2; **Middle of Lake actually near weir.
6/13/18 4 23 2 9 n/a 11 3 Special is NE corner of lake
9/4/18 130 200 5 10 15 n/a Elevated results likely due to recent rain

Annual Water Quality Test Results  - Total Bacterial Concentrations
of Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters

           Recent (2019+) Test Results - for older test results scroll up

  Test Locations
Date Ostrowski Creek Ramp Creek Denton Creek Hicks Creek Sporer Creek Middle of Lake Special Comments
6/7/19 36 209 55 26 40 n/a Heavy rains and runoff during May/June
7/29/19 14 249 4 9 6 n/a 28 Heavy rains and runoff during July
6/22/20 2 23 0 1 2 n/a
8/11/20 4 8 1 2 23 n/a Elevated water temps in late July, early Aug, 77 - 86 degrees
6/22/21 19 340 40 13 35 n/a Ramp elevated due to recent significant rain
8/9/21 19 118 2 5 4 6
6/21/22 3 110 11 1 49 1 No recent rain of significance
8/16/22 3 12 0 2 1 1 middle of lake = off Runyan Lake Point
6/20/23 1 20 1 1 8 n/a
8/8/23 3 13 1 0 3 n/a
next sample in spring of 2024

 

* A reading of less than 300 can be interpreted as water safe to swim in.  *

Reference Materials:
Latest Water Sample Results (June 2023)
Map showing sample locations

Water Quality Studies:
Fish & Water Studies

 

 

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Runyan Lake Inc.

PO Box 105

 Fenton, MI  48430-0105, USA

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